A DJ coming up in (and paving the way for) an exciting time for music and gender expression in NYC, Sailor Malice has a brand all her own: welcome to Club Wonderland!
Thotyssey: Hello Sailor Malice, thanks so much for chatting with us today! By the way, what do friends in the scene call you generally: Sailor? Malice?
Sailor Malice: Well, my friends actually call me Eviee! It’s short for Evalynn. But in the scene, I normally go by Malice or Sailor.
Gotcha! I understand you were DJing somewhere last night?
Yes, a house party for a dear friend and icon’s birthday! Her name is Carmen DeCristo and she’s not just an amazing photographer but an excellent hostess! I had a lot of fun getting to spin sounds I don’t normally get to–played a lot of ballroom and reggae, and ended my set with some trance and house.
What are you playing in the gigs you’re usually booked for?
Depends on the venue and the kind of party. I mostly play a fusion of techno, Brazilian funk and Jersey club, which I’ve played for “Critical Hit,” Club Wonderland and “BodyHack,” but have been booked for gigs by folks like Venus Cuffs, Uncle Freak and In Living Color who lets me focus more on ballroom, reggae and house.
If I may ask… where are you from, and what sort of music did you grow up with?
Originally I’m from the Bronx–a born and raised NYC kid. I lived there ’till ’til I was 18, and then spent some significant time homeless and floating around till my late 20’s. My blood family is from Jamaica and religious, so I grew up on a lot of reggae and church music. But due to my uncle being a DJ who used to run with Grandmaster Flash, I was exposed to so many kinds of genres, from alternative rock to classical and old school hip hop from the early 90’s.
I loved the sound of live bands, so I listened to a lot of free jazz and punk rock, personally. Then one day a friend put me on to EDM and hard techno, and I started finding artist like The Prodigy and fell down a rabbit hole.
How did your DJ life begin?
Watching my uncle, actually! I was about eight or nine when he started showing me how to use decks. The program he was using at the time was Virtual DJ–but he had these huge (to me at the time) Technicas and a PMX 9000 crossfader connected, and I would watch him for hours just go through crate after crate of old records and just put together the greatest sounds my ears have ever heard. He also was a producer, so I got to see local rap artists come over and work with him, and got to learn pretty much all sides of the lifestyle.
I officially started when he let me spin during a family barbeque; I remember it was a Sade track (I adore Sade) with House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” I had no idea what I was actually doing at the time, but I was able to use the hook from “Jump Around” creatively into “Kiss of Life,” and he lost his mind–he ran out into the garage and just kept clapping and smiling. One of my best memories of him.
Ever since then, I said this is what I wanna do with my life. If music makes people this happy, I wanna be the person to provide it. I wanna make people smile this big, because it also makes me feel really happy being able to provide this moment of serotonin.
These past few years have seen a rise in nightlife events that celebrate trans / femme music and culture and togetherness. It’s all still relatively new and evolving, but what does it feel like to be part of something so important, cutting edge and fun?
Wow, this question hit. I wish I could come up with a word that can properly say how amazing it is to be a part of this movement. To see my name on bills with local and out of state legends like Archangel, Soo Intoit, Finish her!, Cisne, Junior Mintt and In Living Color, Sp3cial K and Haus of Quench–who are not just talking, but actively walking the walk of love, peace and joy. To see folx who a few very short years ago would be made fun of just for wearing makeup or clothes that “should be worn by a different gender” now be able to live their best lives… it’s mind blowing. At times, I don’t even believe it myself that Club Wonderland gets to call these folx friends, family and coworkers. It can be also really scary–the personal need to not disappoint them, or folx who have come up to me and say what amazing spaces I’m creating and cultivating… that I’m seen, and helping others feel seen, too. It can be a lot, and at the same time I wouldn’t trade it for any other feeling. It’s like an honor really, one I didn’t think I’d ever deserve.
You are part of the reason it’s all happening!
Thank you!
What can you tell us about the origins, mission and sound of your own event brand, Club Wonderland?
Wonderland has evolved so much in these past two years. We started as Neverland, actually! I was inspired to create it by seeing local drag and rave groups like In living Color (which started my DJ career), Haus of Quench and BodyHack. These groups were out here taking up much needed space, and doing it unapologetically. I thought to myself, “how can I be a part of such an amazing collection of artists, activists and community leaders? There must be so many!” But there wasn’t. When I came into the scene, they were the only few folx really out here putting the trans community on the map. I would sit and have conversations with June–my dear sibling and joy of my life who is a third of In Living Color and is an amazing drag performer–about how little of us are out here creating these opportunities. I got upset; I thought it was our fault for not stepping up. And then I saw we just weren’t being giving the opportunities, because the outside cishet community didn’t want us.
I needed to take up the space, not ask. So I just kinda did. After talking to June and Soo Intoit (my DJ mother and founder of Critical Hit), I decided I wanted to start a House–but I didn’t want that hierarchical energy. I wanted it to be a collective, a space where all ideas are being heard and acted on for the good of not just the folx running it, but the entire community. I wanted a collective that directly served the needs of the community. I want a space that’s run by trans folx for trans folx. So I made it!
We started off as trans-ran only, but I quickly said it’s not enough. So we became a trans / queer BIPOC-ran collective for trans / queer folx who prioritize trans / queer BIPOC. I think it’s becoming a space that’s evolving as I evolve.
The change from Neverland to Wonderland happened because I felt I didn’t want some far away land like never Neverland where we never grew up; that felt childish and didn’t show my or the community’s growth–that we’re stuck, or something. So I then based it off my love of Alice in Wonderland, and how I relate to the story: the journey of shedding my old life by traveling through this magical land,and coming out at the end as the person I really want to be.
Our mission: continue to take up space. To create more than just spaces we can rave, but events where we can share ideas and actively work on bettering our community together.
We have a few upcoming opportunities to experience that! You have a recurring residence at the aptly named venue Wonderville called “No Save Points” on September 9th.
Ah, I adore Wonderville–such a great space that has shown me nothing but love! “No Save Points” is a theme that… kinda turned it into something recurring on its own. It’s based on video games that won’t let you save your game–meaning you have to play it through all at once or start over / lose your progress–mashed up with “Nowadays Nonstop.” There are no breaks in between sets, which gives the energy of a nonstop rave in honor of video games that won’t let you stop. DJs get to play their sets–but instead of plugging out when their set is done, the next DJ plugs in and they b2b (back to back) before switching off. With a lot of Wonderland shows, we try to have a theme that will hook folx in and excite them to come. With my love of video games and that being an element I’ve always wanted to add to Wonderland shows, it feels really good and comfortable to be at Wonderville. It’s becoming a space that I hope to make a home for Wonderland.
Then I see there’s an event called “Collision Course” at Purgatory on September 13th.
Oh, this is gonna be such a cute show! So this is being produced by me and my DJ son and producer / drag artist and resident Wonderland astrologist Onyx Odyssey who’s assisting me, and it’s our attempt at an all-Black live music lineup created by a Black producer. This show was created to fill a need–like we try to with most or all our Wonderland shows–for more Black lineups that are produced by Black folx and not just White or Non-Black producers, to encourage more Black trans and queer folx to come out and take up space. This being a punk show is mostly due to my love for punk music and culture. We do have two Non-black folx working with us (Onyx and our resident VJ Janie Jaffe), but they didn’t include their names on the flyer out of respect and have taken a backseat / assisting role for this (outside of their usual co-producing directly with me with Wonderland gigs).
Our lineup is absolutely amazing, and just the first of many shows to come (catch us in November, too)! It was definitely carefully crafted, with bands like Dentata being family and close to my heart and featuring new artists I’ve never heard of like Governor Vomit and Baebnae, and a favorite of mine that I was introduced to at Euwhoria run by Xana 101 and Cyb3r.Bull: ZAI, who’s just such a strong force and vibe on the mic that I’m actually shook we were able to book them. And all happening at one of the first venues to ever give me a shot and help grow Wonderland: Purgatory BK.
Anything else the children should know about that’s coming up for you?
They definitely wanna pop out to our “Reliquary Renegade,” September 1st! RSVP link is on my IG bio. And definitely keep tabs on our IG page for upcoming shows! And truly, just keep your head up and keep going forward! In the name of the moon and from everyone at Wonderland, you are loved.
We will keep our eyes and ears and hearts open! Last question: if someone came up to you at a gig and tipped you $100 to play your own favorite track of the moment (or all time)… what would you play?
Oh that’s easy. Me and my partner Sarah’s favorite song from Björk, called “Hyperballad.”
Love that song! Thanks, Malice!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Sailor Malice’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram. Also, follow Club Wonderland on Instagram.
Thotyssey 